Many people seem to take hand rails for granted.  Sure, when you're young you go up the stairs two-at-a-time and hardly every touch the hand rail.  But as we mature our bodies aren't what they used to be.

So I think the elderly and disabled are many times forgotten when it comes to hand rails. Kids also need hand rails because they are more likely to lose their balance.  But in reality, everyone benefits from hand rails because you just never know when you might trip or lose your balance.

I came across this the other day.

Luckily there's a hand rail... right?  Yes, there is a hand rail.  But the problem is that it's incomplete.  There are still 3-steps without a hand rail and there wasn't one on the other wall that isn't in the picture.  Here's what would be safe:

The hand rail should be extended to where the red lines are for proper safety.

I hope this gives you a little more information about home inspections and their value. Be safe out there.